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The <keyword id="19987636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bihar-government" source="keywords">Bihar government</keyword> is making serious efforts to give a fillip to <keyword id="23049947" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="small-scale-and-medium-enterprises" source="Orion">small-scale and medium enterprises</keyword> which would play a crucial role in the overall <keyword id="352701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-development" source="Orion">economic development</keyword> of the state, a top official of the Industries department said. Around Rs 2,900 crore have been disbursed to nearly 74,540 beneficiaries under two schemes, one of which was launched only last year, for promoting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( <keyword id="19910977" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="MSMEs" source="keywords">MSMEs</keyword>) in the state, the official said. <keyword id="19903647" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bihar" source="keywords">Bihar</keyword> has a strong MSME base. To promote innovation ecosystem and unlock the enormous entrepreneurial potential of the state, the Mukhya Mantri Udyami Yojana (MMUY) and <keyword id="23049946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bihar-Laghu-Udyami-Yojana" source="keywords">Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana</keyword> (BLUY) were launched in 2018 and 2023 respectively focusing on promotion of MSMEs in the state. "A total of Rs 2,697 crore was disbursed to 34,441 beneficiaries from 2018 till now under MMUY. Similarly, till date Rs 200 crore of the first instalment has been disbursed to 40,099 beneficiaries under BLUY", Secretary, Department of Industries, Bandana Preyashi told PTI. On the one hand, Bihar is getting big ticket investments for major manufacturing units and on the other hand, the state government is also enabling an ecosystem where the MSMEs can thrive on the ground level for the benefit of the rural economy, Preyashi said. The Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana aims to provide job opportunities to at least one member of poor families whose monthly income is less than Rs 6,000 a month, she said. The state government is providing Rs 2 lakh to each beneficiary in three instalments to set up and run micro and small industrial and processing units, Preyashi said. The government's objective is promotion of MSMEs through awareness, training and handholding support, the Industries secretary said. The state government is encouraging entrepreneurs and investors through the provision of a safe and sound work environment and basic infrastructural facilities which include land, roads, electricity, and water availability, she said. The Industries secretary further said, "With new policies of the state government, Bihar is witnessing significant investment promotion activities, reinforcing its position as an emerging business and industrial hub in the country. During the Bihar Business Connect 2023, 278 companies signed MoUs, committing to investments totalling Rs 50,530 crore." the secretary said. The state government has implemented the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (BIPP), Bihar Logistics Policy 2023, Ethanol Production Incentive Policy 2021 and Textile and Leather Policy 2022 to promote industrial growth and investment in the state. "Under these policies, stage-1 clearance was given to 481 applications, with a proposed investment amount of Rs 4,512.85 crore. A total of 175 units were given clearance for financial incentives with an investment of Rs 2,195.10 crore, an all-time high, since the inception of the state investment promotion policies," she said. In 2023-24, 255 startups were recognized in the state and a total of Rs 11.92 crore has been disbursed as seed funding to these startups. From April 2023 to January 2024, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) allotted plots/sheds to 427 units having a total investment size of Rs 6,145 crore covering 492 acres of land and also creating 35,224 employment in the state, said the secretary. "Infrastructure development in industrial areas was given top priority. Funds of Rs 409.33 crore were approved under Part I and Rs 212.68 crore for construction of unity mall under special assistance to states in 2023-24. In the current financial year of 2024-25,149 units have been granted stage I clearance for a proposed investment amount in Rs 3,950.48 crore in Bihar State Investment Promotion Board", she said. At present, Bihar's proposal to establish a multi-sector Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nawanagar and Kumarbagh has been approved by the Government of India. "Authorities concerned are also working on the establishment of Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) in Bihar that will help Bihari Exporters to expand their businesses to international markets", said the secretary. Bihar Chief Minister <keyword id="19907431" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nitish-kumar" source="keywords">Nitish Kumar</keyword> on August 3 this year laid the foundation stone for Rs 1,600 crore cement grinding unit of Ambuja Concrete North Private Limited, a subsidiary of Adani group's Ambuja Cements, in Warisaliganj block in Nawada district. This is considered the largest investment in the state by a cement industry player. "The project is expected to create 250 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs on the site. The project will meet the growing infrastructure needs of Bihar. Adani Group has decided to invest additional Rs 5,500 crore in Bihar in various sectors, including cement manufacturing (in Muzaffarpur), logistics (near Patna) and projects related to agro-industry in Araria, Kishanganj and Begusarai. A total of 40,000 employment will be generated by these investments", said the statement issued by the CMO after the conclusion of the event on August 4.

Bihar government disburses Rs 2,900 crore to 74,540 beneficiaries for promoting MSMEs: Official

Most <keyword id="21473307" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP-allies" source="keywords">BJP allies</keyword> have kept their cards close to chest on the issue of <keyword id="19934070" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uniform-Civil-Code" source="keywords">Uniform Civil Code</keyword>, which Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> strongly backed in his Independence Day speech, with the party's largest partner <keyword id="19910625" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telugu-Desam-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Telugu Desam Party" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Telugu Desam Party">Telugu Desam Party</keyword> (TDP) saying that it will wait for details to emerge before finalising its stand. The JD(U), the BJP's second biggest ally, said the party supports any such reform but its spokesperson K C Tyagi added that it must be pushed only after evolving a consensus by speaking to all stake-holders, including religious groups and states. Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu, the head of TDP Parliamentary Party, told PTI that his party will wait for the details of any proposal related to the UCC before finalising its stand. Another party ally <keyword id="20280818" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Janshakti-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Lok Janshakti Party" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Lok Janshakti Party">Lok Janshakti Party</keyword> (<keyword id="20354493" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ram-Vilas" source="keywords">Ram Vilas</keyword>) has also been non-committal, with its president and Union Minister Chirag Paswan recently highlighting cultural, linguistic and regional diversities across the country to wonder how everyone can be brought under one umbrella. Last month, he said that his party will wait for a draft on the UCC before taking a stand. Tyagi cited JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister <keyword id="19907431" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitish-Kumar" source="keywords">Nitish Kumar</keyword>'s submission in 2017 to the Law Commission to make his point. Kumar had said, "Any attempt to impose a UCC without obtaining through substantive consultations the concurrence of various religious groups, especially the minorities, could lead to social friction and an erosion of faith in the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion." However, the proposal for simultaneous elections, which was also staunchly advocated by Modi on Thursday, generally enjoys support among the BJP's allies. Tyagi said his party is in complete agreement with the BJP on the issue. Both JD(U) and the LJP(Ram Vilas) had extended their support to the concept 'one nation one election' in their submission to the high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind. Another important BJP ally <keyword id="19905334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shiv-Sena" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Shiv Sena" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Shiv Sena">Shiv Sena</keyword>, which is headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has been supportive of both UCC and simultaneous elections. Modi had on Thursday made an unequivocal pitch for a uniform civil code in the country, asserting that a "secular civil code" in place of the existing "communal" one is the need of the hour. He also pushed forcefully for 'one nation one election'. Frequent elections are an "obstacle" in the country's growth, and every scheme is seen as a consequence of one poll or another happening every few months, he said in his speech on India's 78th Independence Day. The UCC has been a key ideological plank of the BJP, while the party has also taken a strong stand in favour of <keyword id="20033454" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="simultaneous-polls" source="keywords">simultaneous polls</keyword>, promising both measures on its successive manifestos.

Most BJP allies keep away from supporting Uniform Civil Code, positive to idea of simultaneous polls

The <keyword id="20000743" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RJD" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="RJD" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="RJD">RJD</keyword> on Tuesday afternoon claimed that Bihar Chief Minister <keyword id="19907431" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nitish-Kumar" source="keywords">Nitish Kumar</keyword> and Telugu Desam Party president <keyword id="19926151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrababu-Naidu" source="keywords">Chandrababu Naidu</keyword> "shared a dislike for vendetta politics" which could lead them away from the BJP-led <keyword id="19938590" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NDA" source="keywords">NDA</keyword>. RJD national spokesperson Manoj <keyword id="20785661" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kumar-jha" source="keywords">Kumar Jha</keyword> also recalled the forecast of Kumar, who heads the JD(U), that "those who came to power will be ousted in 2024", and the efforts he made in laying the foundation of the <keyword id="19895684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="INDIA-bloc" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="INDIA bloc" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="INDIA bloc">INDIA bloc</keyword>. "We have been, formerly, in alliance with both Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu. We know they share a dislike for vendetta politics which the <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword> stands for. Narendra Modi seems to be on his way out. We are hopeful that the two leaders will play a crucial role in the change of guard at the Centre," Jha told reporters here. He also made it clear, "I am making no appeal to Nitish Kumar or Chandrababu Naidu. I am only expressing my hope, given the understanding I have of their temperament". Notably, the JD(U) has put up a better than expected performance in <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> polls, establishing a lead in 14 out of the 16 seats it had contested, surpassing the BJP which had fought 17 but was trailing in five of these. In Bihar, the INDIA bloc was leading in only eight out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats but Jha was confident that the numbers would look up for the coalition in the state, even as he complained about the tardy pace of counting. "We have written to the Election Commission drawing attention towards the extremely slow pace of counting. Only 3-4 lakh votes have been counted till afternoon in most seats in Bihar where, on an average, about 10 lakh people have exercised their franchise in each constituency," said Jha. "We are confident that as the counting progresses, in many seats where we are trailing by slender margins, the picture will change. But we urge the Election Commission to carry out the exercise as per the rule book and not act on any telephone calls they may be getting from Delhi," said the Rajya Sabha MP, who has been alleging that the poll panel has often acted under pressure from the ruling BJP at the Centre. "To all our cadres in the INDIA coalition, I would appeal not to let their guard down. Counting may continue till late in the evening. We must remain vigilant," said Jha. Among the INDIA constituents in Bihar, RJD had contested 23 seats, out of which it was trailing in all but four, while Congress, which got nine seats, was leading in two. The CPI(ML) Liberation, which had contested three seats, was leading in two.

Nitish, Naidu may dump NDA, help INDIA bloc form govt: RJD

Patna, All eyes were trained on <keyword id="19903647" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bihar" source="keywords">Bihar</keyword> Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday, with the JD(U) president appearing to be inching towards his second political volte face in less than three years. For Kumar, who has maintained a deafening silence over the turmoil in the 'Mahagathbandhan', ignoring pleas from allies RJD, Congress and the Left to clear the confusion, it was business as usual. The longest-serving CM began the day by flagging off a number of new fire brigade engines at the city's veterinary college ground, which saw him address a mammoth party rally earlier this week. He followed it up with a visit to Buxar, for inauguration of a beautification project of a renowned temple, a project of the tourism department that is held by his deputy <keyword id="19916246" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tejashwi-yadav" source="keywords">Tejashwi Yadav</keyword>, who remained conspicuous by his absence. The attendees included senior BJP leader and Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who is the local MP. Choubey declined to comment on the ongoing upheaval. BJP state in-charge Vinod Tawde, who is in Patna to attend a meeting, also kept cards close to the chest, but blamed the Congress for the imminent "break up" of Nitish Kumar with the opposition INDIA bloc, of which he was seen as the veritable architect. Meanwhile, <keyword id="19987210" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="janata-dal" source="keywords">Janata Dal</keyword> (United)'s political adviser and spokesperson K C Tyagi told reporters in Delhi that the grand alliance government in Bihar is on the verge of collapse, and accused a section of the Congress leadership of repeatedly "insulting" Kumar. "The INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse. The alliance of INDIA bloc parties is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar," he said. Upon Kumar's return to Patna, top leaders of the JD(U) began pouring in at the official residence of the party president, who is expected to put in his papers as chief minister and stake claim for the formation of a new government, armed with the BJP's support. Leaders of the RJD also gathered at the residence of national vice-president and former chief minister <keyword id="20102182" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rabri-devi" source="keywords">Rabri Devi</keyword>, who shares her government bungalow with Tejashwi Yadav, her son, and husband <keyword id="19900762" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lalu-prasad" source="keywords">Lalu Prasad</keyword>, who is the party president. All party leaders were made to deposit their mobile phones outside the gates of 10, Circular Road, the house situated at a stone's throw from the chief minister's residence. Sources claiming to be in the know of things said the deliberations were about the course of action to be followed in the event of Kumar calling off the alliance. While some RJD leaders are said to be in favour of staking claim to form the new government, hoping to cobble-up support of eight MLAs the 'Mahagathbandhan' requires to go past the majority mark, others, including Tejashwi Yadav, appear to be not impressed with the idea since the JD(U) and the BJP together have more than 122 members in the 243-strong assembly.

All eyes on Nitish as political storm brews in Bihar

In a small village in Zambia, a teenager carries the key to her <keyword id="21911075" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bicycle" source="keywords">bicycle</keyword> lock around her neck like an ornament. Her father, the leader of the hamlet frowns upon it. But it has little to no effect on her, because the bicycle was her key to freedom, and symbolic of the agency she now had over her life. <div type="image" title="Students of Government Manorama Vidyapith Girls High School in Patna (2009)" agency="BCCL" msid="113057493" hostid="261"></div> Similarly, a girl in her neighbouring village would deflate her cycle’s tyres every day, and bury the key somewhere far from the reach of her brother, to stop him from using it. Why were these young women so territorial and proud over a seemingly modest mode of commute to their school? How is it related to Bihar, and how has something as small and insignificant as a bicycle paved the way for a broader movement of woman empowerment? Read on to find out! <h2>Bihar’s Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana</h2>Being one of the most impoverished states in India, Bihar is plagued with a large gender gap in school attendance. This gap in attendance in schools only grows with age. The enrollment of girls in primary school is satisfactory, largely due to the availability of primary schools and the introduction of schemes like the midday meal. However, distance remains a huge barrier in the hinterlands, pushing them further away from attending secondary school. In 2006, the Nitish Kumar-led state government, launched the Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana, a pioneering cash-for-kind program to empower girls through education. The program initially provided ₹2000 to 14-year-old girls enrolled in 9th grade, enabling them to purchase bicycles. This initiative was designed to address one of the most significant barriers to education for girls in Bihar—long distances to secondary schools. But, how profound were the implications of this policy intervention? In 2008, <a href="https://www.nishithprakash.com">Professor Nishith Prakash</a> from Northeastern University and <a href="https://econweb.ucsd.edu/~kamurali/index.html">Professor Kartik Muralidharan</a> of the University of California, San Diego embarked on a study to gauge the policy’s impact with support from the International Growth Centre (IGC). Their research found that this bicycle program increased age-appropriate secondary school enrolment for girls aged 14-15 by 32%. It also reduced the gender gap in enrolment by 40%. Moreover, the number of girls appearing for and passing the 10th-grade exam rose by 18% and 12%, respectively. The success of this initiative highlighted the transformative power of providing a bicycle. Inspired by the Bihar program's success, Professor Prakash later collaborated with <a href="https://worldbicyclerelief.org">World Bicycle Relief (WBR)</a> and Zambia's Ministry of General Education to implement a similar initiative in the Southern province of Zambia. <h2>After Bihar, why Zambia?</h2>Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa that has made significant strides in improving access to primary education with near-universal primary school enrolment. However, the story, when it comes to girls in secondary education, is markedly different. The drop-off for girls, as they transition to secondary education is stark. According to the World Bank’s 2015 report ‘Policy Brief: Zambia,’ their enrolment fell to just 61% at the lower secondary level. The same report states that girls drop out of school at double the rate of boys in Grade 7 and triple the rate of boys by Grade 11. <h2>A tough road to secondary school</h2>Transitioning to, and completing secondary education is particularly challenging for girls, primarily due to barriers like school fees, long distances to school, and societal factors such as teenage pregnancy and child marriage. These challenges are even more pronounced in rural areas. Additionally, this transition to secondary school often coincides with the onset of menstruation, which brings its own set of challenges. The lack of menstrual hygiene facilities in schools, coupled with the stigma and lack of awareness surrounding menstruation, further exacerbates the already significant gap in girls' education. Nearly 98% of girls in their sample reported walking to school, spending an average of 110 minutes commuting just one way, as reported in a <a href="https://www.cesifo.org/en/publications/2022/working-paper/wheels-change-transforming-girls-lives-bicycles">new study</a> authored by Professor Nishith Prakash and his collaborators. Alarmingly, 35% of these girls reported experiencing sexual harassment during their commute, highlighting just how perilous a journey many face in their pursuit of education. This <a href="https://www.cesifo.org/en/publications/2022/working-paper/wheels-change-transforming-girls-lives-bicycles">intervention</a> was introduced in Zambia, providing bicycles to girls in 100 schools across three districts, and the results were promising. Overall absenteeism dropped by 29%, translating to an additional five school days per year for girls in the Southern Province, where the average primary school student missed 18 days annually. Girls in the schools who received the bicycles were 38% less likely to drop out of school compared to those in the schools who did not receive the bicycles. <h2>Pedalling towards a safer commute</h2>The impact of these bicycles extended beyond just improved attendance. The program also led to enhanced perceptions of safety among the girls. One year after the intervention, girls in the treatment group reported a 22% reduction in instances of being teased or harassed on their way to school. Additionally, the probability of girls missing school or leaving early due to safety concerns dropped by 39%. Post the success of this program, the United States Agency For International Development (USAID) awarded $3.5 million to fund bicycles for growth initiatives to increase access in rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, mainly Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia. Additionally, the Ministry of General Education (Zambia) scaled up the cycle program in several districts in Zambia. Simply put, the bicycles in Bihar and Zambia gave young girls the agency of making choices for themselves. While the immediate benefit of these programs was providing the means for women to travel to school, the long-term impact reveals significant shifts in attitudes among both the women involved and the communities around them! But did you know that the use of bicycles to provide women with this much-needed agency isn’t new and was actively instituted by women during the suffrage movement of the 19th century — a decades-long fight to win the right to vote for women in the United States? <h2>Corsets to cycles: The Suffrage movement &amp; bicycles</h2> <div type="image" title="A woman with a bicycle in early 1900s" msid="113057788" hostid="261"></div> In the late 19th century, during the American industrial revolution, a seemingly simple invention sparked a movement that would forever change women's lives — the bicycle. As the country experienced a ‘bicycle craze,’ the first wave of the women’s rights movement was gaining momentum. The bicycle quickly became more than just a mode of transportation; it became a powerful symbol of change and progress in the fight for women’s emancipation. In fact, the introduction of the bicycle revolutionised women’s fashion, breaking away from restrictive corsets and long skirts that had previously hindered their mobility. Instead, women began to adopt more practical, comfortable clothing that allowed them to cycle freely. The image of the ‘new woman’ emerged — educated, sporty, and career-oriented — with a bicycle as her constant companion. In 1895, at the age of 80, suffragist leader <keyword id="23037502" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="elizabeth-cady-stanton" source="keywords">Elizabeth Cady Stanton</keyword> predicted the power of the bicycle in transforming the lives of women. Having the ability to be self-reliant, often for the first time in their lives, would encourage them to be more courageous in other areas as well. While back then, their fight was for their right to vote in political elections, times have changed. Women have to fight different battles — some new and some old — to realise and utilise their potential. What has remained constant in this journey is the bicycle! Susan B. Anthony, another suffragist leader further opined, “Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel…the picture of free, untrammelled womanhood.” Had she known that several decades later, this simpleton mode of transport would continue to improve the lives of young women in remote parts of the Global South, she would’ve been happy to her heart's content! If something as mundane as access to mobility has historically brought such great results, what can be done to bring greater mobility for women in policy-making today? Professor Nishith Prakash suggests that mobility needs to be thought of in a broader context. Mobility in the case of women isn’t just freedom to be able to go from one place to another. There are multiple actors at play, including their actual safety and the perception of feeling safe in an environment. Cultural norms in most societies across the globe, and in India, automatically grant the power of key-decision making to men. For these archaic norms to be challenged, he suggests changes in curriculum from early childhood. Reiterating the importance of agency in making choices for themselves, there need to be jobs for them to want to step out of the confines of their homes. And once they do, nothing can stop them from cycling away to their freedoms!

SIMPLY PUT: Two Wheels, One Mission — Bicycles empowering girls in Bihar and Zambia, a call-back to 19th century Suffrage movement

Patna, Former Bihar CM <keyword id="20102182" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rabri-devi" source="keywords">Rabri Devi</keyword> on Monday filed nomination papers for election to the state legislative council, besides three other candidates of her RJD and one of alliance partner CPI(ML) Liberation. Three candidates of the BJP, including former minister and state unit chief Mangal Pandey, also filed their nomination papers. Rabri Devi reached the Vidhan Sabha secretariat along with her husband Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, and sons <keyword id="19916246" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tejashwi-yadav" source="keywords">Tejashwi Yadav</keyword> and <keyword id="20196796" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tej-pratap-yadav" source="keywords">Tej Pratap Yadav</keyword>. The other RJD candidates who filed nomination papers were Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Syed Faisal Ali and Urmila Thakur. CPI(ML) Liberation's Shashi Yadav also filed nomination papers. Tejashwi Yadav, a former Deputy CM and the leader of multi-party <keyword id="19941767" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mahagathbandhan" source="keywords">Mahagathbandhan</keyword>, told reporters, "It is a matter of delight that our coalition has fielded three women." While Yadav's mother is seeking re-election to the upper house for a third consecutive term, Siddiqui, a veteran leader, has had a three-year-long stint in the council in the 1990s, besides having been elected to the assembly several times. The other Mahagathbandhan candidates will be making their debut in the Vidhan Parishad. Yadav, however, declined to take questions on former Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan, who is in the NDA but has dropped hints that he could switch sides if he got a better deal. CPI(ML) Liberation legislative party leader Mehboob Alam told reporters, "Let Chirag make clear his stand. His late father Ram Vilas Paswan had been our ally. If he, too, decides to junk the BJP, we shall welcome him." Congress legislative party leader Shakil Ahmed Khan, who was also present on the occasion, was asked about some leaders of his party expressing dissatisfaction that "despite having 17 MLAs", it was not fielding a candidate for legislative council polls. Notably, elections are being held for 11 seats, the terms of which are to end in May. Of these, one seat was held by senior Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra. However, Khan said, "Our party is democratic and all people are allowed to express their opinions. But this is not an issue. We got our candidate elected to the Rajya Sabha recently. We are now helping our alliance partner (CPI-ML)." After the Mahagathbandhan candidates, it was the turn of Mangal Pandey, besides BJP debutantes Anamika Singh Patel and Lal Mohan Gupta to file their nomination papers. They filed their nomination papers in the presence of Samrat Choudhary, Deputy Chief Minister and state BJP president, besides Jitan Ram Manjhi, ex-CM, whose HAM is an NDA partner and whose son Santosh Suman is also seeking re-election to the legislative council. Suman, who is a minister in the <keyword id="19907431" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nitish-kumar" source="keywords">Nitish Kumar</keyword> cabinet, filed his nomination papers last week, along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) MLC Khalid Anwar. The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is March 14 and voting, if required, will take place on March 21.

Rabri Devi among 8 candidates to file nomination for legislative council polls on last day

Patna, Bihar Chief Minister <keyword id="19907431" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nitish-kumar" source="keywords">Nitish Kumar</keyword> owns assets worth Rs 1.64 crore, according to his latest public disclosure. According to details of the assets of the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues posted on the <keyword id="20021772" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="cabinet-secretariat-department" source="keywords">Cabinet Secretariat Department</keyword>'s website on Sunday evening, Kumar has Rs 22,552 in cash, and deposits of Rs 49,202 in different bank accounts. He also has a Ford Ecosport car worth Rs 11.32 lakh, two gold rings and a silver ring worth Rs 1.28 lakh, and other movable assets such as 13 cows and 10 calves worth Rs 1.45 lakh, a treadmill, an exercise cycle and a microwave oven. The only immovable property that he has is an apartment in Dwarka in New Delhi, which cost him Rs 13.78 lakh in 2004, and is now worth Rs 1.48 crore. Last year, Kumar had declared total assets of Rs 75.53 lakh. A comparison of the two disclosures showed that the jump in the value of assets was primarily due to the rise in the worth of his Delhi apartment. Kumar's government has made it mandatory for all cabinet ministers to disclose their assets and liabilities on the last day of every calendar year. Deputy Chief Minister <keyword id="20021770" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tejashwi-prasad-yadav" source="keywords">Tejashwi Prasad Yadav</keyword> declared a total income of Rs 4.74 lakh for the 2022-23 financial year. His elder brother <keyword id="20021771" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tej-pratap" source="keywords">Tej Pratap</keyword>, who is also a minister in the state government, has assets worth Rs 3.58 crore.

Gold rings, 13 cows, 10 calves among Nitish Kumar's assets worth Rs 1.64 crore

<keyword id="859038" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bihar-education-minister">Bihar Education Minister</keyword> <keyword id="4278447" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mewalal-Choudhary">Mewalal Choudhary</keyword>, allegedly facing corruption charges in the recruitment of assistant professors and scientists, has resigned. He was sworn in as a cabinet minister just a few days ago along with Chief Minister <keyword id="6358190" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitish-Kumar">Nitish Kumar</keyword>. Chaudhary met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday. An hour after assuming office on Thursday, he resigned as education minister. Earlier on Thursday, Chaudhary had assumed charge of the education ministery. The opposition has been attacking the government over allegation of corruptions against the education minister ever since his name was announced. JD (U) General Secretary K.C. Tyagi said, "Nitish Kumar's identity is a leader with a difference in politics," Tyagi said. "Democracy runs on ethics and public morality. That is why, since allegations of corruption have been levelled against him, he has resigned from the post of education minister." It may be recalled that the RJD has been attacking the CM about the appointment. on Wednesday, Tejashwi Yadav had taken to Twitter to say. "By appointing Mewalal Choudhary, involved in assistant professor recruitment scam and corruption in building constructions as education minister, has the CM given him a free hand to indulge in more corruption and loot?" asked Tejashwi. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/loan-moratorium-case-indias-power-sector-players-want-the-supreme-court-to-plug-the-loopholes-in-rbis-restructuring-scheme/articleshow/79301830.cms">Loan moratorium case: India’s power sector players want the Supreme Court to ‘plug’ the loopholes in RBI’s restructuring scheme</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/wipro-ceo-delaportes-new-plan-could-allow-company-to-catch-up-to-to-tcs-infosys-hcl-tech-and-others/articleshow/79299467.cms">Wipro CEO Delaporte’s new plan could give the Indian IT services giant the edge it needs to catch up to its peers, according to analysts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/lakshmi-vilas-bank-is-the-fifth-financial-firm-after-ilfs-dhfl-yes-bank-and-pmc-bank-to-collapse-in-india/slidelist/79286096.cms">Lakshmi Vilas Bank is the fifth financial firm to collapse in India within the last 30 months</a>

Nitish Kumar's choice for education minister resigns within hours of taking office on the back of corruption charges

With every passing minute, JDU and <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> supporters are making claims of being confident of forming a new government in Bihar under the leadership of <keyword id="6358190" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitish-Kumar">Nitish Kumar</keyword>. Sanjay Singh, spokesperson of the JDU said: "We are a disciplined party that works well under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. He has taken Bihar on the path of progress. We knew that the results will come in our favour and the trend so far has been according to our expectations." <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="79142084" title="Bihar Election Results 2020: NDA continues to widen its lead over the Grand Alliance with 126 seats but faces narrow margins" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> With trends looking positive for the NDA in Bihar for the past couple of hours at 2 pm, both the JDU and the BJP supporters are preparing to celebrate the occasion at their respective offices. A group of JDU supporters carrying traditional musical instruments were seen at party office in Patna. They were heard singing a song in praise of Nitish Kumar around 1.30 pm. While ground level workers of the JDU and BJP assembled in large numbers at the offices of their respective parties, senior leaders are waiting for the picture to become clearer. Sources said the big picture is likely to become clear by 4 pm. Hence, they are hesitating to join full-fledged celebrations. They are also avoiding making any arrogant premature statements. "We have already prepared sweets and arranged crackers to celebrate the occasion but the celebrations will start only after we reach a stage where apprehension of vicissitudes become minimum," said JDU worker Rajesh Kumar. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/instagram-down-users-complain-of-frozen-timelines-and-likes/articleshow/79146012.cms">Instagram down — user complaints of report frozen timelines and likes continue to increase</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/checkout-here-bihar-assembly-election-2020-results-and-updates-online/articleshow/79142084.cms">Bihar Election Results 2020: NDA continues to widen its lead over the Grand Alliance with 126 seats but faces narrow margins</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/bihar-election-results-2020-over-one-crore-votes-counted-so-far-and-the-ec-hopes-to-finish-the-polling-process-by-tonight/articleshow/79146843.cms">Bihar Election Results 2020: Over one crore votes counted so far and the EC hopes to finish the polling process by tonight</a>

NDA supporters confident of forming government under Nitish

<ul><li>On International Women’s Day, a London-based potential CM candidate — <keyword id="5844485" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pushpam-Priya-Choudhary">Pushpam Priya Choudhary</keyword> — took to Twitter to announce the formation of a political party called ‘Plurals’ mentioning herself as the president. </li><li>She promised that Bihar will become the most developed state in the country by 2025 — and at par with the European countries over the next decade. </li><li>Pushpam, who belongs to Darbhanga district of Bihar has a Masters in Public Administration from the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. </li></ul>Days after the Bihar Chief Minister <keyword id="6358190" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitish-Kumar">Nitish Kumar</keyword> said that the Janata Dal United will contest the upcoming assembly elections with National Democratic Alliance and win over 200 seats, a fresh face Pushpam Priya Choudhary announced her candidature for 2020 polls. On International Women’s Day, the London-based potential CM candidate took to Twitter to announce the formation of a political party called ‘Plurals’ mentioning herself as the president. <div type="twitter" handle="pushpampc13" handlename="Pushpam Priya Choudhary" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1139615653843865606/LXnW-KOb_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1397" retweetcount="347" status="Bihar needs pace, Bihar needs wings, Bihar needs change. Because Bihar deserves better and better is possible. Reje… https://t.co/l2kb4XMGHK" createdat="1583627551000" id="1236449683322458112"></div>

 Priya, who is the daughter of Janta Dal (United) leader Binod Chaudhary, announced her candidature yesterday (March 8). She is already wooing voters in Bihar with her education record. “I vowed to return to Bihar to transform it. It is finally happening and, let me put this on record, I dedicate this day to you professor,” she said a month ago, referring to her professor at the London School of Economics, UK. She also promised that Bihar will become the most developed state in the country by 2025 — and at par with the European countries over the next decade. My daughter has all my blessings says Binod Choudhary Her father, who has strong family ties with Nitish Kumar, claims that he had no clue of her daughter joining politics. “Everyone has the freedom to dream. My daughter is a highly educated person. She has all my blessings,” Vinod said. “My studies at LSE and IDS and also my experiences in Bihar have taught me that there cannot be a single model of development as every individual has a unique reality,” Priya elaborated. Pushpam, who belongs to Darbhanga district of Bihar, has completed her Masters in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. She also has a Masters in Public Administration from the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. "The world is progressing very rapidly, yet, Bihar continues to be the least developed region in the world. We are still at the bottom in the country too. Moreover, it is not about the rank that we hold but about what that rank represents. Poverty, malnourishment, illiteracy, unemployment and all other development indices that require urgent policy action. These parameters lead to fatalities every day in Bihar,” she writes on her website. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/article/chief-ministers-of-india-here-is-the-list-of-all-30/articleshow/74429607.cms">Chief Ministers of India: Here is the list of all 30</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-prashant-kishor/articleshow/74101503.cms">The Making of Prashant Kishor, The Election Magician</a>

You Searched For "Nitish Kumar Bihar CM" and got 10 results

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Gold rings, 13 cows, 10 calves among Nitish Kumar's assets worth Rs 1.64 crore

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Nitish Kumar's choice for education minister resigns within hours of taking office on the back of corruption charges

IANS

NDA supporters confident of forming government under Nitish

IANS

Pushpam Priya Choudhary from London School of Economics launches her political party in Bihar

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